Rohingya in Bangladesh Preparing to Flee to Malaysia
London, UK -- Burma Human Rights Network has interviewed several young Rohingya men living in refugee camps in Bangladesh who say they are preparing to flee Bangladesh by boat for Malaysia, in a similar exodus to the one witnessed in 2014 where thousands of Rohingya attempted to reach Indonesia and Malaysia by boats. Some of the men BHRN interviewed have likely left already, according to the timeline they provided. Similarly, many Rohingya living in IDP camps inside of Sittwe, Burma, have fled the country by boat in an attempt to flee to Malaysia.
A boat carrying 93 Rohingya from Sittwe was intercepted by Burmese authorities On November 27th. Many of those fleeing appear to be working with human traffickers who will entrap them in some form of modern slavery through ‘loans’ Rohingya are told they can pay off once they arrive in Malaysia.
Economic Interest Of Burmese Military Must Be Targeted – EU Takes Encouraging Steps Forward
London, UK – The Burma Human Rights Network welcomes Council of the European Union conclusions on Myanmar that adopted on 10th December, especially their decision to adopt additional sanctions against senior military and border guard officials complicit in what the U.N. has now found likely constituted an act of genocide against the Rohingya people. With atrocities continuing against the Rohingya and other Burmese minorities, these sanctions are an important step, but more clearly needs to be done – this includes the EU extending its sanctions to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, named by the recent Fact-Finding Mission.
Kachin Human Rights Activists in Prison on UDHR Anniversary
London, UK – On this 70th Human Rights Day, the Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN) condemns the sentencing of Kachin anti-war activists Nang Pu, Lum Zawng and Zau Jat for speaking out against the Burmese military’s crimes. BHRN calls on the National League for Democracy (NLD) government to authorise their immediate release from prison.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 1948 — a landmark document to which Burma is a signatory. BHRN implores international donors and governments to recognise that the Burmese state continues to violate the fundamental rights promised to all people through this charter.
